Dishwasher

ABSTRACT

A dishwasher comprises a washing tub ( 10 ) and a basket ( 20, 30, 40, 60 ) for arrangement within the washing tub ( 10 ), the basket ( 20, 30, 40, 60 ) comprising a plurality of holders ( 22 ) for accommodating articles to be cleaned, whereby said basket ( 20, 30, 40, 60 ) is designed such that it can be arranged within the washing tub ( 10 ) in at least two different orientations by rotating the basket ( 20, 30, 40; 60 ) about an axis which extends through the center ( 39 ) of the basket ( 20, 30, 40, 60 ) and vertical to the floor of the basket ( 20, 30, 40, 60 ), wherein the arrangement of said plurality of holders ( 22; 32, 34 ) is different in different orientations of the basket ( 20, 30, 40, 60 ).

The present invention relates to a dishwasher comprising a washing tub and a basket for arrangement within the washing tub, the basket comprising a plurality of holders for accommodating articles to be cleaned.

Dishwashers and particularly dishwashers for domestic use often comprise baskets having adjustable racks, such as racks which can be displaced between an upright operating position and a fold-down non-operating position. While such known measures provide for some flexibility in use of the dishwasher basket, since the user can fold down the racks so as to facilitate the loading of larger articles into the basket, such as pots and pans, the user nevertheless is restricted to the specific arrangement of holders that is provided in the basket of the dishwasher.

Considering that most users of dishwashers follow a certain constant routine in loading the dishwasher, such as first loading larger dishes into the basket, then loading any smaller dishes into the basket and finally loading cups and glasses into the remaining available space, often the problem arises that articles are loaded into the best accessible regions first, such as in the front region of the basket, because the holders for such type of articles are provided in this region, although these articles then interfere with the loading of further articles into regions of the basket that are less accessible.

In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide for a dishwasher which allows for further flexibility in loading articles to be cleaned into the basket.

In a dishwasher comprising a washing tub and a basket for arrangement within the washing tub, the basket comprising a plurality of holders for accommodating articles to be cleaned, in accordance with the present invention the above object is solved in that the basket is designed such that it can be arranged within the washing tub in at least two different orientations by rotating the basket about an axis which extends through the center of the basket and vertical to the floor of the basket, and wherein the arrangement of the plurality of holders is different in different orientations of the basket.

If, for example, the basket comprises a first array of holders that is adapted for holding larger plates as well as a second array of holders that is adapted for holding smaller plates, by locating the basket in a preferred orientation within the washing tub, the user can adapt the basket to his personal needs. Thus, if the user prefers a loading sequence wherein for example first the larger plates are loaded into the basket and then the smaller plates or any other smaller items are loaded into the basket, the basket can be arranged within the washing tub so that the holders for larger plates are located in the rear part of the washing tub whereas the holders for smaller articles are located in the front part of the washing tub. In this manner loading and unloading of the dishwasher is facilitated, since it can be adapted to the personal preferences of the user. Another advantage could be flexibility with respect to different kinds of loads. In order to improve ergonomic handling when loading breakfast dishes a turn of the basket could for example be beneficial after unloading dinner dishes. Optionally also the washing result could be improved as well.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are defined in the dependent claims.

The basket preferably comprises at least two regions, that is a first and a second region, and optionally additional regions, for accommodating articles to be cleaned, wherein the geometry of the basket in a first region is different from the geometry of the basket in at least one second region.

In order to provide for a different geometry of the basket in said regions, the regions can differ from each other in at least one of:

-   the shape of holders provided in said regions; -   the mutual distance of holders provided in said regions; -   the density of holders provided in said regions; and -   the shape of the basket floor in said regions.

For example, the basket can comprise in the first and second regions plurality of plate holders which are adapted for accommodating different sizes of plates, by providing a first and a second plurality of plate holders each comprising a pair of holding bars, wherein the distance between the plate holders in said first plurality of plate holders is different from the distance between the plate holders in said second plurality of plate holders and/or the distance between the holding bars in said first plurality of plate holders is different from the distance between the holding bars in said second plurality of plate holders. Alternatively, such regions can be adapted for accommodating glasses, bowls, pots and pans and the like. As already noted above, in order to allow the user to adapt the basket to his personal needs so as to adapt the basket to a particular loading sequence preferred by the user, wherein for example first the larger plates are loaded into the basket and then the smaller plates or any other smaller items are loaded into the basket, the basket can comprise at least one region located in a rear part of the basket that has a different geometry than at least one region located in a front part of the basket. Similarly, at least one region located in a left part of the basket can have a different geometry than at least one region located in a right part of the basket.

Furthermore, the dishwasher can comprise support means for supporting the basket within the washing tub irrespective of the orientation of the basket. Such support means can be permanently provided within the washing tub, such as for example a circumferential latch or projection on which the basket rests, or a plurality of holders that are provided either at the basket or within the washing tub.

In order to minimize the free volume within the washing tub that is occupied by the support means, the support means can comprise a plurality of supports that can be attached at different locations with respect to the basket. The supports either can be provided within the washing tub, such as by providing in the washing tub a plurality of sockets for accommodating supports at different locations in dependency of the orientation of the basket, or alternatively, the supports can be adapted for releasable attachment to the basket. In such embodiments, prior to the first use of the dishwasher, the user thus selects the preferred orientation of the basket and positions the respective supports either in the washing tub or the basket, respectively, so as to adapt the basket to his personal needs. Since the dishwasher usually is used by the same person or persons, once the basket has been adapted to the personal preferences of the users, the positioning of the supports will be maintained. Should it however, any time during use of the dishwasher, be desired to alter the arrangement of the holders within the basket and hence to use the basket in a different orientation, the supports can be detached from their present position and relocated in a different position.

The support means can comprise a plurality of supports within the washing tub, wherein the basket comprises a basket support structure which is adapted to rest on the supports irrespective of the orientation of the basket. In such an embodiment, the supports can be installed or provided for permanently within the washing tub and thus need not be relocated when the basket shall be used in a different orientation.

If the basket is made of a wire-mesh, the basket support structure may comprise a plurality of regions where there are provided for sufficiently strong or reinforced wires or wire knots, which regions are arranged such that in every possible orientation of the basket one of the said support regions coincides with one of the supports.

Alternatively or additionally the basket support structure can comprise bearing elements that are provided at or attached to the bottom side of the basket and which comprise bearing surfaces or contact areas which cooperate with the respective supports that are provided in the washing tub.

The number of supports can be minimized by providing supports which are located to be generally symmetric about the center of the basket. Thus, if the basket is of generally rectangular shape, the supports, such as a plurality of posts within the washing tub and corresponding basket support surfaces, are provided at similar distances with respect to the corners of the basket. If the basket is of generally square shape, the supports may be provided at similar distances with respect to each of two edges arranged adjacently to each other, thereby forming a longitudinal and a lateral edge. For the movement of the basket in different directions with 90 degrees turn to each other the supports may be workable in both directions or convertible respectively.

In embodiments in which the basket is of rectangular shape, wherein the width of the basket differs from its length, the basket can be arranged in two different orientations within the washing tub. On the other hand, when the basket is of generally square shape, the basket can be arranged within the washing tub in four different orientations. While the invention will be further described by reference to dishwashers having a substantially rectangular shape, it should be understood that the washing tub and correspondingly the basket could have any shape which is symmetric about its center point, such as a polygonal, circular, elliptic and the like. Since the basket comprises several arrays of holders which are adapted for accommodating different articles to be cleaned, wherein in contrast to the circumferential shape of the basket such arrays are not symmetric about the center point of the basket, by arranging the basket in a desired orientation within the washing tub, the user can adapt in a very simple and rapid manner the basket to his personal preferences in loading the basket. Thus the basket can be easily adapted to the personal requirements of the user, such as right handed or left handed use, and to a particular preferred loading sequence, such as larger articles in the rear of the basket and smaller articles in the front, or larger plates in the left part of the basket and smaller items in the right part of the basket, and the like.

The loading capacity of the basket can be further increased when the dishwasher comprises a detachable shelf which is adapted for fixation at different sidewalls of the basket. Thus, a user can further adapt the basket to his personal needs. For example if a shelf shall be provided at one of the lateral sidewalls of the basket, such shelf can be attached at the left side to facilitate right-handed loading and unloading of the dishwasher, or, should the user be left-handed, correspondingly the shelf could be attached at the right-hand side of the basket.

Similarly, the dishwasher further can comprise a cutlery basket which is adapted for fixation at different locations within the basket. If for example the basket comprises rows of pairs of plate holders, the basket at its bottom side can be provided with a pair of grooves which are provided at the same distance than the pairs of plate holders so that the cutlery basket can be placed at any desired location above such plate holders.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described by reference to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a dishwasher made in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are schematic layouts of a rectangular basket for use in the dishwasher of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic layout of a basket for a different embodiment;

FIG. 5 shows a basket that is designed for use as a lower basket in a dishwasher comprising two baskets; and.

FIG. 6 is a schematic layout of a basket of a further embodiment;

FIG. 1 shows in schematic perspective view a table top dishwasher which is designed to be placed on top of a kitchen work top or which can be used as a portable device. It should be understood, however, that the present invention can be similarly employed in a built-in dishwasher or in a free standing dishwasher. It should be further understood that in a dishwasher in which the dishwasher basket shall be adapted to be movable into and out of the washing tub, the support means on which the basket carries thus will comprise means for movably supporting the basket, such as rollers, drawer mechanisms and the like, wherein provisions are taken that such supports can be relocated when the orientation of the basket with respect to the washing tub shall be altered.

The dishwasher shown in FIG. 1 comprises a tub 10 and a cover member 12 which forms a hood over the tub 10. Hood 12 comprises a fixed hood portion 14 and a door 16 which is rotatable about an axis 18. Within washing tub 10 there is provided a basket 20 which comprises a plurality of holders 22 for accommodating and fixing during a washing cycle a plurality of articles to be cleaned. As will be explained by further reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, basket 20 comprises several regions having different arrangements of holders. Thus, as can be seen in FIG. 1, basket 20 comprises a first region, in FIG. 1 shown in the left, which is adapted for accommodation of glasses, bowls and the like and a second region, in FIG. 1 shown in the right, which comprises holders 22 and which thus is adapted for accommodation of plates.

Within tub 10 there further are provided means for circulating cleaning liquid throughout the interior of the dishwasher, such as a spray arm which is located below the basket 20, a circulation pump for feeding water to the spray arm and optionally a separate drain pump for draining the tub to a waste line.

In the lower portion of the dishwasher there further can be accommodated any electrical components that are required for operation of the dishwasher, such as a power supply a controller and the like, as well as operating switches 24 and a display 26.

FIG. 2 shows a basket 30 for use in a dishwasher as it is shown in FIG. 1. Basket 30 which is made of wire mesh comprises three regions for accommodating articles to be cleaned which regions are depicted schematically in FIG. 3. As is illustrated in FIG. 3, basket 30 comprises a first region A wherein there are provided holders 32 for larger plates, a second region B in which the basket floor is substantially flat so as to accommodate glasses, cups, pots and the like and a third region C comprising holders 34 for smaller plates. In region B, and in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 also in region A, the floor 36 of basket 30 comprises a narrower grid of wire mesh than in region C, so that region B can also be used to accommodate smaller articles.

Basket 30 further comprises a basket support structure which in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 comprises four regions in the basket floor where the wire mesh grid is reinforced by additional wire segments 38. The basket support regions comprising wire segments 38 are located within the floor of basket 30 so that they are symmetric about the center 39 of the basket. Thus, if in order to change the arrangement of the basket regions A, B and C the basket is rotated by 180° about an axis which extends through the center (39) of the basket and vertical to the floor (36) of the basket, so that region C is to the left, as shown in FIG. 4, and region A for larger plates is in the front right portion, no separate supports need to be provided in the washing tub for the different orientations of the basket.

FIG. 5 shows the outline of a basket 40 which is adapted for use as a lower basket of a dishwasher comprising a lower basket and an upper basket, and wherein the dishwasher comprises a vertical feed tube extending along the rear wall of the washing tub so as to feed water to an upper spray arm or spray mechanism. As shown in FIG. 5, basket 40 comprises a recess 42 along its rear wall 43 through which recess the said feed tube wall extends when the basket is located within the washing tub. In order to be able to rotate basket 40 by 180° so as to change the arrangement of holders within the basket, a similar recess is provided in the front wall 45 of basket 40.

Basket 40 furthermore comprises beveled edges 44 so that the front portion of basket 40 which is ahead of the bevels of the front corners, as it is indicated in FIG. 5 by dotted line 46, can project into a recess 50 provided at the interior side of the dishwasher door 48. In this manner, optimum use of the available space within the washing tub can be provided for.

FIG. 6 shows a basket 60 which is adapted for use in a dishwasher having a square washing tub. Basket 60 comprises several regions of different geometry for accommodating articles to be cleaned. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, basket 60 comprises four regions 62, 64, 66 and 68 which are provided with different holders for articles to be cleaned. Thus, for example region 64 is adapted for accommodating smaller plates, region 66 is adapted for accommodating larger plates or pots, and region 68 is adapted for accommodating smaller items and hence comprises a floor having an narrower wire mesh. Basket 60 can be placed within the washing tub either in the orientation shown in FIG. 6 or can be rotated by 90°, by 180° or by 270°. Thus, for example if the user prefers to load larger items into the dishwasher before loading smaller items into the dishwasher, basket 60 can be arranged such that region 66 is located in the rear part of the dishwasher.

In FIG. 6 there further is illustrated a cup shelf 70 which can be attached to either sidewall of basket 60, or, should for a certain washing cycle no cup shelf be required, can be removed from basket 60. Furthermore, FIG. 6 shows a cutlery basket 72 which is adapted for selective placement at a desired location within the basket 60. To this end, cutlery basket 72 comprises a plurality of recesses or grooves 74 along its bottom side so that cutlery basket 72 can be placed atop holders 76 which are provided in basket region 66. While the distance of the holders that are provided in the different basket region may differ, cutlery basket 72 preferably has a size which allows placing the cutlery basket also between rows of holders or between a row of holders and the wall of the washing tub, as it is indicated in dotted lines 78 for a basket region 64. 

1. Dishwasher comprising a washing tub and a basket for arrangement within the washing tub, the basket comprising a plurality of holders for accommodating articles to be cleaned, wherein the basket is configured to be arranged within the washing tub in at least two different orientations by rotating the basket about an axis which extends through the center of the basket and vertical to the floor of the basket, and wherein the arrangement of said plurality of holders is different in different orientations of the basket.
 2. The dishwasher of claim 1, wherein the basket comprises at least two regions for accommodation of articles to be cleaned, wherein the geometry of the basket in a first region is different from the geometry of the basket in at least one second region.
 3. The dishwasher of claim 2, wherein said regions differ from each other in at least one of: the shape of holders provided in said regions; the mutual distance of holders provided in said regions; the density of holders provided in said regions; and the shape of the basket floor in said regions.
 4. The dishwasher of claim 3, wherein the basket in a first and a second region comprises a first and a second plurality of plate holders each comprising a pair of holding bars, wherein the distance between the plate holders in said first plurality of plate holders is different from the distance between the plate holders in said second plurality of plate holders and/or the distance between the holding bars in said first plurality of plate holders is different from the distance between the holding bars in said second plurality of plate holders.
 5. The dishwasher of claim 2, wherein at least one region located in a rear part of the basket has a different geometry than at least one region located in a front part of the basket.
 6. The dishwasher of claim 2, wherein at least one region located in a left part of the basket has a different geometry than at least one region located in a right part of the basket.
 7. The dishwasher of claim 1, comprising support means for supporting said basket within the washing tub irrespective of the orientation of the basket.
 8. The dishwasher of claim 7, wherein said support means comprises a plurality of supports which can be attached at different locations with respect to the basket.
 9. The dishwasher of claim 8, wherein said washing tub comprises a plurality of sockets for accommodating said supports at different locations with respect to the basket.
 10. The dishwasher of claim 8, wherein said supports are adapted for releasable attachment to said basket.
 11. The dishwasher of claim 7, wherein said support means comprises a plurality of supports within said washing tub, and said basket comprises a basket support structure which is adapted to rest on said supports irrespective of the orientation of the basket.
 12. The dishwasher of claim 11, wherein said supports are located to be generally symmetric about the center of the basket.
 13. The dishwasher of claim 1, wherein the circumferential shape of the basket is generally symmetric about the center of the basket.
 14. The dishwasher of claim 13, wherein the basket is of generally rectangular shape.
 15. The dishwasher of claim 14, wherein the basket is of generally square shape.
 16. The dishwasher of claim 1, wherein the basket is made of a wire-mesh.
 17. The dishwasher of claim 1, further comprising a detachable shelf adapted for fixation at different sidewalls of the basket.
 18. The dishwasher of claim 1, further comprising a cutlery basket adapted for fixation at different locations within the basket. 